Far West

WASHINGTON - House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Thursday said the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction "is a jobs committee" that should also lay the groundwork for broad tax reform.

LOS ANGELES - A confirmation hearing on the Las Vegas Monorail's plans to exit bankruptcy that had been slated this week was postponed after bondholders, the insurer, and the issuer all balked.

The California Department of Water Resources plans to issue an undetermined amount of revenue bonds for its Central Valley Project Water System on Oct. 6, according to the state treasurer’s office.

California priced $5.4 billion of revenue anticipation notes a day ahead of schedule Wednesday, after getting retail orders for more than 65% of the deal, according to the state treasurer’s office.

California Controller John Chiang said August revenues came in 2.1% or $134.9 million above projections in the recently passed budget.

Federal investigators are auditing a billion dollar expansion project at the Port of Anchorage amid huge cost overruns, published reports say.

WASHINGTON - Transportation industry and government groups have not found a lot to like in President Obama's American Jobs Act, and they are particularly unhappy about the proposed infrastructure bank.

WASHINGTON - Dealers and municipal advisors are criticizing the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's proposal for a permanent 21-member board.

WASHINGTON - President Obama's jobs bill proposal to cap tax-exempt interest for higher-income taxpayers surprised muni bond market participants and was seen as a betrayal by some issuers who, according to one analyst, could have to pay about $10 billion more in added interest costs over the life of their muni bonds if the proposal is enacted.

WASHINGTON - Responding to a move by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to limit the basic broker-dealer licensing exam to customer sales, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is asking the Securities and Exchange Commission for permission to require market participants who engage in muni underwriting, trading, and other non-sales activities to take the board's muni qualifications exam, according to a proposal filed with the SEC Tuesday.